Tuesday 25th April, 1-2pm
You have your research topic and access to millions of resources – but how do you find relevant material? This session will help you turn your research idea into a comprehensive search strategy designed to get maximum results.

Friday 28th April, 2-3pm
Move beyond iDiscover and discover the world of databases. Using Web of Science, this session will guide you through basic and advanced search functions, finding relevant content for your research and setting alerts to keep on top of new material.

Tuesday 2nd May, 3-4pm
Move beyond iDiscover and discover the world of databases. Using Scopus, this session will guide you through basic and advanced search functions, finding relevant content for your research and setting alerts to keep on top of new material.

Thursday 11th May, 3-4pm
In this session we will explore online reference management tools and how they can save you time and effort when compiling your bibliography. Using the tool Zotero as an example we will show you how to import references from a range of sources, create easy in text citations and produce a bibliography at the click of a button.

Monday 15th May, 3-4pm
Research posters are a great way to communicate your project to an interested audience, but they are not just an excuse to cram an entire article onto a single sheet of paper! This session will cover what it takes to design and present a research poster including what to include, accessibility concerns, using illustrations to make an impact and presenting both in-person and online.

Friday 19th May, 11-12pm
Many of us have issues with speaking in public but the ability to design and deliver an effective presentation is a valuable skill. This gentle introduction will focus on the most common mistakes people make and highlight how you can avoid them. It will cover topics such as creating eye-catching and accessible slide decks, capturing the attention of an audience, preparing for the unexpected and overcoming nerves.

Tuesday 23rd May, 1-2pm
Creating a strong, professional online identity can help to enhance your reputation, grow your network and become part of the wider scholarly conversation. This session will discuss the various tools available to you, how to build a successful online presence and promote yourself and your work for maximum impact.

Thursday 25th May, 11-12pm
Peer review – the formal assessment process for published academic research – provides a good opportunity for researchers at any stage to get involved in the wider academic conversation. It helps you to develop skills including critical reading, giving appropriate feedback and can help to enhance your own academic writing to improve your chances at publication. This session will outline the different types of peer review, how to get involved in the process, what typical reviews look for and how you can use this activity to enhance your professional reputation.

Wednesday 31st May, 2-3pm
Whatever form your research takes you will be using, collecting and generating a large volume of data. It is important to have a plan to manage this information, not just to help you work more efficiently but because many funders demand evidence of a plan before you start your project. This session will introduce you to data management plans, discuss their key components, demonstrate tools which can help you create a plan and guide you through the process of planning for your project.

Wednesday 7th June, 11-12.15pm
This session will cover the basics of UK copyright law and how these impact researchers such as dealing with third party materials, seeking permissions and how to manage risk.

Tuesday 13th June, 1-2pm
This session offers an introduction to modern metrics as one element of a wider system to measure success. Learn about traditional metrics, newer methods such as Altmetrics and why there is more to impact than just numbers. We will also discuss the move towards the responsible use of metrics and how research active staff at any level can get involved.

Thursday 22nd June, 11-12pm
Taking good notes that can be used in a variety of situations is a valuable skill, during your studies and beyond. Done well, good notes can also save you a lot of time. This session will look at the different types of notes you can take, how to take notes from readings, in lectures and from recordings and how to use the resulting resources.